Urban Massage Review*

Hello!

Let me tell you my previous experience of massage. I used to think paying for someone to rub you was a strange concept, until one day when I decided to do the very same. Since then I've had dozens of massages, some bad some good. I was lucky enough to be offered a complimentary massage from Urban Massage, a company who already have a great reputation in London and recently launched in Bristol, and they are fabulous!

The aim of the game is of course to relax, both the body and mind. It's really tough sometimes to put down the iPhone and just.... do nothing, think of nothing, chill. I am guilty of having an over-active brain, massage is an opportunity to put that to bed.
I also struggle with back pain, due to the fact I spend 80% of my time hunched up feeling the cold. So I definitely wasn't about to say no to a free massage! I was a little apprehensive however, as this was going to take place in my home rather than a spa...

Urban Massage is an app, in which you can book a professional massage in the comfort of your own home! It's really simple to use, you just select the type of treatment you'd like, select a time, and select the available therapist.

 I decided to go for a Deep Tissue massage, in the afternoon on my day off. I'd spent the morning at a yoga class, going for a swim and chilling in the sauna. It's all very self indulgent, which I make no apologies for! Sometimes you just have to be kind to yourself. 

The therapist arrived on time and was friendly and professional, assessing any problems I suffer with and what areas I'd like her to concentrate on. Personally, when getting a massage in a spa I usually end up feeling guilty which ruins the experience for me! I know this sounds ridiculous, but I've spoken to many therapists who have told me they are often paid terribly, and expected to do back-to-back massage for very little pay! Which is of course, really exhausting physical work with little or no personal interaction. I had a bit of a cheeky chat with my therapist and found out she's able to fit Urban Massage around her life, they pay a really fair wage, and she really enjoys it! I was able to enjoy my massage knowing that she enjoys her work. 

I would definitely recommend Urban Massage! It was really nice that when it was all finished, I was at home! I was smelling good, I had some candles lit and I could just enjoy being chilled out! Rather than having to leave a spa and walk to a bus stop and be thrown back into real life! 

I've been given a code for my readers to recieve £10 off a massge, click this link to book online (you don't have to use the app) or us the code 'RASHTON2M'. Spoil yourself!

Thanks for reading! Any questions don't hesitate to get in contact! 

Ashton xxx

Bare Minerals Skincare Treats Part II

Hello!

Welcome to part two of bareMinerals skincare treats! I'm sat writing this in the cafe in my gym, I've just done a yoga class and I'm waiting for a goats cheese and grape panini. Check me out, I'm so fancy. 

Pure Transformation Night Treatment (£45)

This product comes as either clear (which I use) light, medium or tan. People always ask 'is it basically make up which you can wear to bed?' and the short answer is YES! When I first began working for Bare Mins and people would ask what it's for, I couldn't think of anything other than 'when you have a new 'partner' and don't want to go to bed without make up' if you catch my drift. Whilst that is a great selling point, that's not all it's for. My brilliant trainer told me it's great for people who do night shifts, or if you suddenly have to leave the house but you've already done your cleansing and moisturising and whatnot!

From a skincare point of view, it's fantastic. It's the highest concentrate of the Active Soil Complex available, (as mentioned in my previous post). It improves the texture and tone of skin, and helps tighten pores. This is the biggest benefit I have seen from using Night Treatment personally, especially during 'lady time' when I'm especially oily and have more open pores. People with open pores will benefit from using Night Treatment. 

The brush which comes with Night Treatment is really dense and it's actually quite a nice relaxing pre-sleep sensation on the face! The finish is not quite matte, almost like a slightly glowy powder. Again, it's one of those where you have to try it to believe it. I love it! 

Intensive Glow Pads Brightening Treatment (£34)

A pot of Glow Pads gets you 60 of these little textured beauties, which you gently sweep over the face to give you more radiance and luminosity. Containing that lucious Active Soil Complex business, as well as glycolic acid to naturally exfoliate and make way for fresh glowy skin. 

Glow pads weren't a product I felt an instant draw to, mostly because dullness isn't a huge concern of mine. Also, I think I subconsciously associated them with the Clearasil pads my mum gave me when I was thirteen and suffering my first breakouts! Full of alcohol and incredibly drying for the skin. 

VERY different to glowpads. All ingredients are natural and will only benefit.

I've only started using them this week, so I'm not really able to report a noticable difference as all skincare takes atleast four weeks to truly take effect. However I do feel a mild exfoliation after using them. Meaning I feel nice and clean, as I do with all bareMinerals skincare!

I'm going to share with you a before and after photo. Now, whether this progress is purely down to using bareMinerals makeup and skincare or if it's thanks to some other factors I couldn't tell you for definite. But it's a fact that the 'before' was at the beginning of making changes in my make up and skincare, and the 'after' is now. It was actually taken last week when I was on holiday with my boyfriend and decided to stroll about without a slick of make up. Which I simply couldn't have considered a few months ago, I would have atleast had a BB cream on to cover my redness. 

You can see I don't have any sore, painful, red and swollen spots anymore. I still get the odd one or two but it's nothing like before. I'm nearly 25 and it's taken this long! 

I have natural sunlight on my face in the second photo, but I promise you I am not wearing any make up what so ever. No tinted moisturiser, nothing. 

If anyone wants to have a more personal chat about anything to do with skincare. Please don't hesitate to Facebook message me or Tweet me, whether I know you or not! I won't tell a soul, I completely understand how soul destroying bad skin can be! (I can't even believe I've just put that photo up!)

Edit: I should also mention, the best place to catch me in person is the bareMinerals counter in House of Fraser Bristol!

Thanks For Reading Beauties!

Ashton xx

(Although I have a side section stating so, I'd like to state all opinions and photographs are my own, I do not write on behalf of my employer and his blog is in now way affiliated with my employer)

Bare Minerals Skincare Treats Part I

Hello! 

Today I'm going to talk to you about bareMinerals Skincare. You may or may not know, but bareMinerals are the company I work for. However, this blog of mine contains my absolute and utter true feelings (deep!) and I'll never write anything I don't believe. I was a bareMinerals customer long before I was a member of staff, so you can trust me on this one... this stuff is the shit!

Let's look at some treats, this is the sort of product you might not realise you need 'til you've tried it! A more unique product, which does something a little more specific for your skin than say a moisturiser or cleanser. 

Pictured:

• Active Cell Renewal Serum
• Exfoliating Treatment Powder
• Intensive Glowpads Brightening Treatment
• Pure Transformation Night Treatment

All of BareMinerals' skincare is powered by an ingredient called The Active Soil Complex. You can read more in detail about this here for some official info from the brand. 

My understanding of The Active Soil Complex is that it's derived from virgin soil, untouched by human hands, machinery, plants, animals etc... meaning it's really rich with minerals from the ground! It's such a unique thing which BareMinerals has, and I love talking about it, because it genuinely is so beneficial for the skin! 

Say hello to Active Cell Renewal Serum. (£39)

 Serums really confused me for a while, I was all 

"WHAT DOES IT DO?!" and "BUT I ALREADY USE MOISTURISER!"

However I now realise serum works on a much deeper level than a moisturiser alone, it will help your moisturiser work more effectively and get to work on a more specific problem. 

There are three different types of bareMinerals Serum which do different things. With this one you only need to apply at night, it helps to speed up and improve the effectiveness of the turnover of your skin cells. Your cells are renewed during your sleep anyway, this gives a helping hand.

This fast turn over means... spots are less likely to turn to scars, any scarring will heal quickly, your skin is less likely to hold onto old cells giving it a more bright and healthy texture and glow. 

It's one of those things that you just have to try, trust me! 

Next I want to show you Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser. 

This is hands-on-heart my number one BareMinerals product, it's fantastic. It's so unique and so different and I honestly think everyone should use it.

Before I start, please can I suggest you read Why Apricot Scrub Is Terrible For Your Skin by Lauri Shea, this review gave me such an insight into what exfoliation can actually mean. I don't want to go off on a tangent but I know we all love that 'ah my skin is so CLEAN!' feeling. (myself included, I've previously reviewed a scrub not dissimilar, tut) but quite often that sensation is just your skin being ripped to shreds. This lady is so thorough her knowledge is incredible, I dream of one day have an index of ingredients within this brain of mine! 

Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser is a powder which you can either mix with water, or your usual face wash or cleanser. It's brilliant to have so much control depending on how much of an intense scrub you feel you need. You can also make a really thick mixture, and leave it on as a face mask. 

When I was a kid and I suffered bad eczema outbreaks, I'd sit in a bath with oats floating around, as it's  so soothing for the skin. This stuff contains Collodial Oatmeal (you can smell this in the product, yum porridge) which acts in the same way. It also contains rice starch and a range of natural oils. 

It works as you'd hope, by buffing away dead skin cells, dirt and excess oil without any damage to the surface layers. 

It's brilliant for dry or dehydrated skin which needs a little refresh, it's amazing for oily skin which has a tendency to get clogged up. It's perfect for skin which is just looking a bit tired, and anyone who just needs to get rid of the old and make way for the new! 

Personally, I use it about three times a week and that's enough for me. There's no harm in using it more often than that. I've had a bottle for about 4 months and have half left, a little goes a long way! 

To follow this I'm going to be reviewing and explaining the other two products photographed. I don't want to over load you with information as I appreciate it's a lot to read! I'm super passionate! 

'Til Next Time (I'm back!)

Ashton xxx

(Although I have a side section stating so, I'd like to state all opinions and photographs are my own, I do not write on behalf of my employer and his blog is in now way affiliated with my employer)

Barry M Revisited!

Hello! 

A couple of months ago you may remember I posted about receiving a range of Barry M nail paints pre-release. Not for the purpose of blogging, but something else...

Well now that they've posted it themselves, I can show you!

I'm also hosting a Christmas GIVE AWAY, scroll to the bottom of this post for an opportunity to win all of the Barry M Gliteratti range!

I was asked to make two stop-motion videos for Barry M's Instagram. The videos feature the 'Gliteratti' waking down a red carpet being papped, and then arriving at a club on a dance floor. 

It was a really fun project to work on, and really nice to re-visit animation, which is what I studied at Birmingham uni. 

This project combined some of my loves... nail varnish, Instagram and animation! Lush.

Here is the video's...

(I feel like they look better in Instagram, please click either

My Instagram or the Barry M Instagram to see the videos there)

They have received a hell a lot of likes, which is really lovely! 

If you're wondering how Barry-M knew that I could do this sort of thing. They saw this animation which I did when I was working for Benefit! I was really curious about the social media side of the brand and asked if I could intern for a week in the department. Benefit then discovered I studied animation at uni and the rest is history!

It's a good example of how the blogging/social media/creative/make up industry works. Sometimes you just have to be brave and say 'I want to do this...' because if you don't ask, you don't get!

That's my advice!

My next step is to start nagging for an internship with my current employer and favourite brand, Bare Minerals!

This is the set you can win! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ashton xxx

No.7 Nail Effects!

Hello!

I've not blogged for fifty six days. The reason for which is a bit ridiculous really! Barry M kindly posted a link to my blog on their Facebook, and my page views shot up. However I did recieve a couple of negative comments about how I'm not a 'proper blogger' (whatever that means!) and the quality of my photos being not good enough... etc etc. On reflection, I honestly can't believe I let this bother me. I've had so many lovely comments which are really appreciated, I'm annoyed at myself for letting a tiny percentage get to me! When I started this blog a fellow blogger told me to do it for me and me only, if you're in it to get free stuff & recognition then you're not in it for the right reasons. Seeing my view count & receiving a couple of goodies is definitely a lovely bonus, and it's lovely to hear people enjoy reading. But ultimately it has to be just a little hobby for my own enjoyment.

Anyway, onwards and upwards! I'm back in the game!

Today I'm going to show you Boot No7 Nails Effects Nail Polish in 'Snow Wash'!

Snow Wash gives the effect of falling snow on a clear winters night. 

(Writing myself a nice cheesey little Christmas card poem there, vomit)

I've put two layers on top of a Lancome blue-black colour. It would also look good over red but that can wait for December, don't want to get ahead of myself with Christmassyness just yet! 

Snow Wash is £7. No7 are usually either on 3 for 2, or have the £5 off vouchers floating round. 

I can't remember the last time I bought a No7 product full price! 

There's also a more colourful version called Party Pearls too.
I would guess these are both limited edition for winter.

Glad to be back. Thanks for reading!

Ashton xxx

Nyla Rose Coin Purse*

Evening all! 

There's nothing I love more than an independently run company, Nyla Rose is a gorgeous little family run business with a vintage inspired vibe. Sounds right up my street! They say:

'As a growing business, we know that you, our customers, are at the heart of what we do, and we do everything we can to put a smile on your face!'

Here's a collection of some of their most delectable products I am lusting after (if you are reading this boyfriend it's only 92 days 'til Christmas so take note!) I really recommend checking out their website for more!

The Lindy Bop Black Amorette Dress is delicious! I usually would associate this shape of dress with colourful prints for spring/summer, I'm not sure why I've never considered it for the current months. A simple black dress is a staple for autumn/winter and I know this one would suit my shape a treat. I've also recently partook in my first 'Lindy Bop' dance lesson... so it seems very apt, hey?! 

As a 24 year old grown up lady type thing, I think it's pretty embarrassing that I don't own a proper handbag. I usually scruff around with my leopard print backpack (which I love) ...but when I want to wear a blazer and heels, it's just not ok! Nyla Rose's Tanned Tote Handbag would be perfect with a cream blouse and jeans. It's definitely a woman's bag and not a girl's, which is what I need in my life!

My flat is crying out for the Sass and Belle Vintage Floral Suitcases! I think that the clutter on my shelves has been having an affair with the clutter under my bed and they seemed to have had multiple clutter children all over my bedroom floor, I swear is wasn't me! I could really do with some sort of attractive storage space and these beauties would hide my mess and look gorgeous at the same time!

The product Nyla Rose send me was a cute little coin purse. When I go out looking fancy with a small bag, I have no where to put my big chunky purse so this is definitely going to come in handy! There's noting worse that having random coinage floating around the bottom of your clutch! 

It's got two little sections, one for my coins & cash and one for my bank card & ID 

(I still bring my ID out with me, in the hope that some door man will humour me by asking to see it)

Thank you so much to Nyla Rose for their generosity! You can check out them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and The Nyla Rose Homepage. 

Ashton xxx

Exclusive Preview of Barry M's Glitterati Nail Paints*

Hello Blog Readers! 

As you know, I've been working on a 'secret project' for a 'secret' brand. Well... betwen me and you, I've been working with Barry M's newest nail varnish collection and they are beautiful!

Unfortunately, I'm still going to keep schtum about the project itself. Once Barry M release it on their own Instagram page, I'll be posting here and on my own Instagram. However I will now be showing you the products featured, before they even hit the shops! Exciting! 

Taadaaa! Here there are! (Click the photo to enlarge) aren't they good looking?! 

My personal nail varnish collection is slightly obscene, and it features a Barry M. You can imagine my excitement to be given the opportunity to work with their products! I've come to expect great things from these guys with regards to nail polish, and the Gliteratti six do not disappoint! 

Let me introduce ladies!

The Fashion Icon, The Socialite and The Catwalk Queen

The Rockstar, The VIP and The Starlet

The Gliteratti nailvarnished can be used as both stand alone nail varnishes (as pictured above with two coats) or as a top coat to add a little sparkle to your favourite colours. 

The glitter itself is really lovely and fine. As we all know the struggle is REAL when it comes to removing a chunky glitter. I have spent many an hour chipping away at the stuff!

I would maybe even describe The Glitterati as an 'iridescent shimmer' if I was being fancy! 

(EDIT: I realise this almost sounds like I meant this are tough to remove, what I meant was that they are easier than most glitters to remove!)

Here is the The Starlet painted over a limited edition bright pink summer colour with an accent nail of the The Fashion Icon.

The Glitterati collection launches in Tesco & Superdrug next week. If you get hold of them & take any photos, tag me on Instagram (I'm @ashtonlewsey) because I'd love to see! I can't wait to keep trying different combinations of colours myself. 

Ashton xxx